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Saturday, December 02, 2006

So we got a little snow. But first we had enough rain in just one day to start the wet weather creek flowing, then an inch or two of some frozen substance that made it look and feel as if the farm had turned into a giant snowcone. There was lots of howling wind, too--the kind that makes you want to dive under a heavy quilt when you hear it--along with temperatures that dipped into the single digits. And somewhere in the midst of it all the power blinked off--and it didn't blink back on for 21 hours.

Twenty-one hours without lights in the house or lights in the barn. No oven, no radio, no computer, no fans to circulate the warmth from the ancient woodstove (our main source of heat) through the frigid house—and no running water, because no power means no way to pump the water up from the well. Then the phone line went dead. Twenty-one hours to think about just how much I heart electricity.

The important thing is that all of the critters are fine. Not exactly happy with the ice and mud and slush and freezing cold, but fine. (And no, Cary didn't get to sleep in the house curled up by the woodstove--but Robin did.) The sun is shining brightly today, and the sheep and their guard donkey are roaming the fields, hungrily pawing at the snow to reach the grass they know is underneath. It's supposed to get even colder tonight, but we're ready for it.

There are strategically placed electric heaters and heat lamps to keep the pipes from freezing, the firewood is piled high on the porch, and the oven is is sending the scent of freshly baked butter cookies wafting through the house as it heats up the kitchen. And there are buckets and bottles and glasses and pitchers of fresh water everywhere just in case.

Autumn was so very, very nice, but it is quickly becoming a distant, defrosted memory. The calendar may say it lasts another three weeks, but the temperatures and the landscape have declared that winter on the farm has officially begun.

15 comments:

yesterday a nurse friend at work made up a song, (sorry, you have to add your own tune) Twenty more days, twenty more days, twenty more days til the longest day. BUT, after that every day get longer.....So we must think that in 19 days, the daylight will last longer each.day. I know this may not help, but at least you'll be freezing in the light. I continue to love reading about you and what seems tome to be my friends.

And here on the Sunshine Coast (I'll use that term loosely from now on) of British Columbia, we are just melting out from under thick layer of snow and ice that's lasted all week. It's brought down trees, one within feet of my back door and I shudder to think what it's done to the plants and shrubs that are accustomed to balmy winter weather. Your photo was very heartwarming indeed!

Hi, I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your photos and your blog. Part of me still longs to live a farmgirl life such as yours, and your daily photos help keep that notion alive, if only vicariously. In particular, I love the photos of all your animals (we have 4 chickens and 2 dogs!) and your changing seasons. But, that cold weather of yours... Brrrr. I am originally from the East Bay, in Northern California (like you!), but I now live in Santa Barbara and have become quite the little weenie when it comes to cold weather. We're having a "cold spell" here and it's in the 50's. Oh well. I hope things warm up a bit for you soon. Take care.

Autumn is my most favorite time of the year. Second in line is winter when I don't have to venture out. I can sit here in my PJs and read blogs, eat, eat, work in a nap and then eat some more. Your weather there is perfect for my lazy winter habits. Stay warm!

We just experienced the same thing for 36 hours, no water from the well, had to drag out the oil lamps, and we do not have the luxury of a wood stove so we brought the workshop propane heater into the house to knock the chill off the air. We have since bought a generator so we can at least run our furnace and be warm, the rest we can deal with, I really dislike being cold.

This house we have now has a well. We've never had a well before, being city folk and all. Our realtor was kind enough to remind us that when we lose power, we lose water. We've had spotty outages in the summer with storms, but 21 hours? Holy chit!

We also just had a 1/2 cord of wood delivered (yes, the sissified city boy called and had it split and delivered...besides, do we *really* want me using an axe? I think not....) I'll be curious to see how fast we go through it out here.

OK, every shepherd-farmer-artist who survives through internet sales ---You just reminded me to call about getting a generator. Martyn and I were just talking about it last nite, for the second year in a row...Our temps are better than yours, but even 40 is chilly without heat...hope all is well now..I thought last nite, if we lost power for a long time, I'd drive all the lamb meat into town hoping someone would store it - I guess you can at least put frozen food out in the snow there if it goes on too long - and the well...ah, living with the well. We often have to put heat lamps in the well shed. Life become very simplified without power, doesn't it.

Yuck. This is exactly why I hate winter. I'm glad you are ok and have the power on. I've had my house since 1988 and I can only think of two times I was without power for more than a few hours, plus I have a gas fireplace so that can keep me warm enough for a short time that I'm really ok. The one time it did go out for two days I was so worried about my freezer, but when I finally opened the door it was so cold in that part of the house that everything was still frozen.

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